Oxidative stress has been widely implicated in both hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hypertension is a major risk factor for CKD progression. In the present study we have investigated the effects of chronic single tempol (membrane-permeable radical scavenger) or losartan (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker) treatment, and their combination on systemic oxidative status (plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (pTBARS) production, plasma antioxidant capacity (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, pABTS), erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activities) and kidney oxidative stress (kTBARS, kABTS, kidney antioxidant enzymes activities), kidney function and structure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with the early course of adriamycin-induced nephropathy. Adult SHR were divided into five groups. The control group received vehicle, while the other groups received adriamycin (2 mg/kg, i.v.) twice in a 21-day interval, followed by vehicle, losartan (L,10 mg/kg/day), tempol (T,100 mg/kg/day) or combined T+L treatment (by gavage) during a six-week period. Adriamycin significantly increased proteinuria, plasma lipid peroxidation, kidney protein oxidation, nitrite excretion, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein expression and nestin immunostaining in the kidney. Also, it decreased kidney antioxidant defense, kidney NADPH oxidase 4 (kNox4) protein expression and abolished anti-inflammatory response due to significant reduction of kidney NADPH oxidase 2 (kNox2) protein expression in SHR. All treatments reduced protein-to-creatinine ratio (marker of proteinuria), pTBARS production, kidney protein carbonylation, nitrite excretion, increased antioxidant capacity and restored kidney nestin expression similar to control. Both single treatments significantly improved systemic and kidney antioxidant defense, bioavailability of renal nitric oxide, reduced kMMP-1 protein expression and renal injury, thus retarded CKD progression. Losartan improved blood pressure, as well as tubular injury and restored anti-inflammatory defense by reverting kNox2 expression to the control level. Interestingly, tempol was more successful in reducing systemic oxidative stress, proteinuria, kMMP-1 and glomerulosclerosis. However, combined treatment failed to overcome the beneficial effects of single treatments in slowing down the progression of ADR-induced nephropathy in SHR.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) cross-talk have been involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process during carcinogenesis. Since EMT also contributes to maladaptive repair and parenchymal damage during renal fibrosis, we became encouraged to explore the role of NCAM/FGFR1 signaling as initiating or driving forces of EMT program in cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells (TECs). TECs stimulated with TGF-β1 (10ng/mL) was used as an established in vitro EMT model. TGF-β1 downstream effectors were detected in vitro, as well as in 50 biopsies of different human kidney diseases to explore their in vivo correlation. NCAM/FGFR1 signaling and its modulation by FGFR1 inhibitor PD173074 (100nM) were analyzed by light microscopy, immunolabeling, qRT-PCR and scratch assays. Morphological changes associated with EMT appeared 48h after TGF-ß1 treatment and was clearly apparent after 72 hours, followed by loss of CDH1 (encoding E-Cadherin) and transcriptional induction of SNAI1 (SNAIL), SNAI2 (SLUG), TWIST1, MMP2, MMP9, CDH2 (N-Cadherin), ITGA5 (integrin-α5), ITGB1 (integrin-β1), ACTA2 (α-SMA) and S100A4 (FSP1). Moreover, at the early stage of EMT program (24 hours upon TGF-β1 exposure), transcriptional induction of several NCAM isoforms along with FGFR1 was observed, implicating a mechanistic link between NCAM/FGFR1 signaling and induction of EMT. These assumptions were further supported by the inhibition of the EMT program after specific blocking of FGFR1 signaling by PD173074. Finally, there was evidence for an in vivo TGF-β1 pathway activation in diseased human kidneys and correlation with impaired renal excretory functions. Collectively, NCAM/FGFR1 signaling appears to be involved in the initial phase of TGF-ß1 initiated EMT which can be effectively suppressed by application of FGFR inhibitor.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and hypertension might contribute to the increased incidence of AKI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of single and combined hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning and NADPH oxidase inhibition on oxidative stress, kidney function and structure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after renal ischemia reperfusion injury. HBO preconditioning was performed by exposing to pure oxygen (2.026 bar) twice a day for two consecutive days for 60 minutes, and 24h before AKI induction. For AKI induction, the right kidney was removed and ischemia was performed by clamping the left renal artery for 45 minutes. NADPH oxidase inhibition was induced by apocynin (40 mg/kg b.m., intravenously) 5 minutes before reperfusion. AKI significantly increased renal vascular resistance and reduced renal blood flow, which were significantly improved after apocynin treatment. Also, HBO preconditioning, with or without apocynin treatment showed improvement on renal hemodynamics. AKI significantly increased plasma creatinine, urea, phosphate levels and lipid peroxidation in plasma. Remarkable improvement, with decrease in creatinine, urea and phosphate levels was observed in all treated groups. HBO preconditioning, solitary or with apocynin treatment decreased lipid peroxidation in plasma caused by AKI induction. Also, combined with apocynin, it increased catalase activity and solitary, glutathione reductase enzyme activity in erythrocytes. While AKI induction significantly increased plasma KIM-1 levels, HBO preconditioning, solitary or with apocynin decreased its levels. Considering renal morphology, significant morphological alterations present after AKI induction were significantly improved in all treated groups with reduced tubular dilatation, tubular necrosis in the cortico-medullary zone and PAS positive cast formation. Our results reveal that NADPH oxidase inhibition and hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning, with or without NADPH oxidase inhibition may have beneficial effects, but their protective role should be evaluated in further studies.

No abstract

Rare neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) positive cells have been previously described within the normal human adult kidney interstitium, speculating that they could increase in the interstitium with incipient interstitial renal fibrosis (IRF). In the present study, among 93 biopsy samples of various kidney diseases, NCAM+ interstitial cells were detected in 62.4% cases. An increased number of NCAM+ cells was significantly observed only in incipient IRF compared to normal renal tissues and advanced IRF stages (p<0.001), independently of underlying diseases (p = 0.657). All three major NCAM isoforms’ RT-PCR bands were visible either in normal or in kidneys with incipient IRF, albeit their mRNA expression levels measured by qRT-PCR were different. Applying qRT-PCR on pure NCAM+ cells population, obtained by laser capture microdissection, significant mRNA over-expression of NCAM140kD isoform was found in NCAM+ cells within incipient IRF (p = 0.004), while NCAM120kD and NCAM180kD isoforms were not changed significantly (p = 0.750; p = 0.704; respectively). Simultaneously, qRT-PCR also showed significant αSMA (p = 0.014) and SLUG (p = 0.004) mRNAs up-regulation within the NCAM+ cells of incipient IRF, as well as highly decreased matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -2 and -9 mRNAs (p = 0.028; p = 0.036; respectively). However, using double immunofluorescence MMP-9 could still be detectable on the protein level in rare NCAM+ cells within the incipient IRF. Further characterization of NCAM+ cells by double immunofluorescent labeling revealed their association with molecules involved in fibrosis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and α5β1 integrin were extensively expressed on NCAM+ cells within the incipient IRF areas, whereas human epididymis protein-4 (HE4) was found to be present in few NCAM+ cells of both normal and interstitium with incipient fibrosis. Heterogeneity of NCAM+ interstitial cells in normal and incipient IRF, concerning molecules related to fibrosis and variable expression of NCAM isoforms, could suggest diverse role of NCAM+ cells in homeostasis and in regulation of renal fibrosis in diseased kidneys.

Oxidative stress has been considered as a central aggravating factor in the development of postischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to perform the immunohistochemical analysis of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) tissue expression after apocynin (APO) treatment and hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) preconditioning, applied as single or combined protocol, in postischemic acute kidney injury induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Twenty-four hours before AKI induction, HBO preconditioning was carried out by exposing to pure oxygen (2.026 bar) twice a day, for 60 min in two consecutive days. Acute kidney injury was induced by removal of the right kidney while the left renal artery was occluded for 45 min by atraumatic clamp. Apocynin was applied in a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight, intravenously, 5 min before reperfusion. We showed increased 4-HNE renal expression in postischemic AKI compared to Sham-operated (SHAM) group. Apocynin treatment, with or without HBO preconditioning, improved creatinine and phosphate clearances, in postischemic AKI. This improvement in renal function was accompanied with decreased 4-HNE, while HO-1 kidney expression restored close to the control group level. NGAL renal expression was also decreased after apocynin treatment, and HBO preconditioning, with or without APO treatment. Considering our results, we can say that 4-HNE tissue expression can be used as a marker of oxidative stress in postischemic AKI. On the other hand, apocynin treatment and HBO preconditioning reduced oxidative damage, and this protective effect might be expected even in experimental hypertensive condition.

Renal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is the most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Pathogenesis of postischemic AKI involves hemodynamic changes, oxidative stress, inflammation process, calcium ion overloading, apoptosis and necrosis. Up to date, therapeutic approaches to treat AKI are extremely limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning on citoprotective enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins expression, in postischemic AKI induced in normotensive Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were randomly divided into six experimental groups: SHAM-operated Wistar rats (W-SHAM), Wistar rats with induced postischemic AKI (W-AKI) and Wistar group with HBO preconditioning before AKI induction (W-AKI + HBO). On the other hand, SHR rats were also divided into same three groups: SHR-SHAM, SHR-AKI and SHR-AKI + HBO. We demonstrated that HBO preconditioning upregulated HO-1 and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression, in both Wistar and SH rats. In addition, HBO preconditioning improved glomerular filtration rate, supporting by significant increase in creatinine, urea and phosphate clearances in both rat strains. Considering our results, we can also say that even in hypertensive conditions, we can expect protective effects of HBO preconditioning in experimental model of AKI.

The most important finding of our study is that nestin can be used as a potential new early morphological predictor of kidney dysfunction in childhood onset of FSGS, since nestin has been obviously decreased in both sclerotic and normal glomeruli seen by light microscopy.